5 Technologies for a Successful and Interactive Event

Technology has revolutionized the way events are planned, organized, and held. Immersive experiences created by tech has become essential in securing a successful event.In fact, a survey from the American Express Meetings & Events shows that among the 366 meeting planners and 160 attendees surveyed in early 2016, 67% of organizers and 55% of participants consider technology as an important factor in crowd engagement and interactive engagement in an event.

But what exactly are the specific technologies that are becoming indispensable in staging an interactive event?

1. Augmented and Virtual Reality

Both VR and AR have the ability to improve discussions, attendance rates, and interactions at events. These interactive technologies present new opportunities for event organizers to create a full experience, enabling attendees to feel involved and engaged with the occasion.

One of the most obvious potential uses for VR is its ability to create a virtual venue which eliminates the large costs of investing in a location, along with the expenses that comes with it. It also enables virtual attendance that allows attendees to interact via an avatar and be virtually present in an event. Likewise, AR is a great way to showcase a product and give your customers a feel of your offerings even without a venue big enough to display all of your actual products.

Popular VR and AR Headsets:

Google Cardboard

Google Daydream View

Oculus Rift

Samsung Gear VR

Sony PlayStation VR

2. Robots and UAVS

Robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), like drones, are only a few of the technologies that were heavily present at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES). Robots were used to perform tasks like man booths, bartend, and entertain. Likewise, mobile telepresence was also on display to enable people to virtually attend the event by having a robot roam around to immerse the robot’s controller with what’s going on.

On the other hand, drones were also used to capture aerial photography and to deliver drinks ordered through a smartphone app.

Both technologies may be both relatively new in the event industry but they are already proven to provide thrills and new perspectives. Drones, for example, have revolutionized the way the highlights of a show can be captured and shared. It was not long ago when the only option for aerial photography requires hiring a plane or a helicopter. Fortunately, drone technology now delivers high-definition footages at a very reasonable price.

Popular UAVs:

DJI Mavic Pro

DJI Phantom 4

Syma X5SC

Syma X5C

Yuneec Typhoon H Collision Avoidance Hexacopter

3. Wearable Technology

Wearable technology has rapidly evolved from being an accessory to something that is also functional. Today, most wearables can already outperform many of the same computing tasks as mobile phones and laptops, becoming more sophisticated than regular hand-held technology.

It has a lot of uses. It can provide a user real-time information, such as biofeedback and tracking of physiological functions. It can also keep people informed and engaged during a show.

Popular Wearable Technologies in Events:

Google Glass 2.0

Apple Watch Series 2

Fitbit Alta HR

Bird by MUV Interactive

HELO Smart Wristband

4. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

RFID has been a staple for years at music festivals, helping to eradicate ticket fraud and manage entry. Today, the benefits of RFID go beyond festivals. It is now used by all types of events to create interactive experiences and applied in three main areas including access control, cashless payments, and brand activation.

In addition, RFID provides real-time insight into how traffic flows through your event. It can also associate attendees’ social media profiles and emails to enable them to go online on-site without needing to pull out their phones.

Did You Know?

Earlier this year, Tomorrowland, an annual music festival in Belgium, made use of RFID’s by enabling fans to connect with strangers every time they press heart-shaped buttons in their wristbands in unison. At the end of the day, they were emailed the Facebook profiles of everyone they met.

5. Real-Time Translating Earpiece and Translator Apps

It used to be that when a foreign-speaking guest is invited, organizers had to scramble for a way to break the language barrier. The problem multiplies exponentially when it’s a foreign delegation from multiple countries.Today, that problem is easily solved. Translating earpieces and translator apps are allowing two people who speak different languages to understand each other audibly.

While it is not yet completely accurate, they are nevertheless useful in events whose attendees are from different nations. Waverly Labs is a start-up company from Manhattan that has developed a groundbreaking earpiece called Pilot. This device uses translation technology and is paired with a built-in app, the Pilot Speech Translator, to provide near real-time translations of multilingual conversations.